On the Seventh Day God Rested

Can you imagine creating a universe in seven days? Sometimes I can't even get laundry done in seven days! Today is all about numbers. As many of you know, I'm a numbers person. My friend Stephanie bought me a Brain Games book full of puzzles. The point of it being to strengthen your mind in areas where it is weak. The area I struggle most with in the book is language. I fly through the logic, planning and computation. Numbers are good. Numbers are my friend. Numbers are logical and concrete. Does a piece of writing "grab the readers attention"? Does it have an appealing flow? These are questions that are much to vague for me (hence the reason I hated to teach writing!). Numbers on the other hand don't lie. There's always one right answer, although there may be many ways to determine that outcome. So on to a day of numbers! The number 7
Many of you know that God rested on the seventh day of creation. I would too if I had created a world so beautiful. How many of us travel somewhere beautiful or watch an amazing Tri-Cities sunset and just sit in awe of God's creation? I sit here and look out the window and watch the many phases of light throughout the day; from the bright blue crisp sky of the morning, to the rose colored glow of evening. I long to be outside enjoying it, but then have visitors come in saying how windy it is and am thankful I don't have to endure that! Today is my seventh day of watching this change of light from my hospital room. I would say it is my day to rest, but hey, I do that everyday! Day seven brings beautiful weather, a happy heart, and the knowledge that today I have made it to 28 weeks! I'm not out of the dark yet, but that is a huge milestone in the "creation" of these two boys. So on the seventh day I too shall rest and be thankful for the healthy boys who have managed to stay put for 28 weeks!

The number 28
What an odd number to discuss. But in the world of pregnancy, it is a magical number. At this stage of gestation, a baby's lungs have the capability to breathe. They'll still need assistance, but the capability to breathe is there. They are also able to dream, cough, and suck. I think both boys were having nightmares last night as they were squirling around the entire night. Sometimes I wish I could see in there to see exactly what they're doing. It's so bizarre to have two of them moving about!

The number 4
A glorious, glorious number! At the beginning of my stay, the number four indicated the number of times I was hooked up to the IV each day for my antibiotics. That was not pleasant. But after four days, I had the IV taken out.....much better four. Now I get four pills per day.....sufficient four. The best reason for the number four? In four more weeks, if I'm still here, if my cervix is somewhat okay, and if the fetal fibronectin test (determines premature labor) comes back negative......I CAN GO HOME!!!!! I should be talking about the number three since there are three "ifs" to consider! This is still a long time, but it is an end date, a goal....A NUMBER!!!! And you know how I like numbers! I could possibly be home for Easter, and a time very close to little Natalie's birthday. I would still be on bed rest, but I would be home. So, pray for the three "ifs" so that the number four becomes a lucky number.
The number 0
Is zero a number? If not, where do we begin? The number zero originated in Mesopotamia about five thousand years ago. (Yes, I'm a nerd) In teaching math, zero is a very important number. Do you remember when the year 2000 arrived? Intellects kept insisting that the "new millenium" would not begin until 2001. Why? There was no year zero. So does that mean for 2011 years, we've been miscounting? And if zero was introduced five thousand years ago, why didn't they realized this 2011 years ago when the AD calendar began. (Yes, I'm a really big nerd). On to the real reason for zero.....
Today, zero of my two babies have been born, zero contractions, zero blood clots, zero spotting, zero cramping, and zero pain. Zero is a fantastic number.
Now, if only zero were the number of times my neighbors dragged chairs across the room, number of times their other kids yell and scream in the room, the number of times they slam the door.....zero would be heavenly.

The number 1
Is one really the loneliest number? Not likely. There can be two, but still loneliness can occur. One is a number that indicates singularity, good or bad. I been out of my room once, with one wheel chair ride down to the ultrasound room. My legs were hurting, so they had to check for blood clots (a waste of time in my book, but glad they're taking care of me). I had and ultrasound done of both legs, which revealed nothing. Pain from laying in bed. See, it's hard work!

One represents my one child who brings joy to my heart each day. Her morning greetings, her goofy pictures, her undeniable love for her "babies", all bring a smile to my face. She is definitely one in a million (and will let you know, too!).

One is also the one whom I admire, am grateful for, and can't thank enough right now; my mom. My mom has shown me that no matter how old I am or what kind of situation I'm in, I belong to her. She is the one who knows how I'm doing before I have to say anything. The one who understands my feelings and challenges me to always look at another side of a situation. This use to bother me, but now I understand that she was teaching me selflessness; something I admire her for. How are you suppose to live up to that?!

Numbers. Good, bad, indifferent. They'll always be there; everywhere you look. I could put my day into numbers, and if I had time make graphs and charts; he he he. But instead I practice my "language" and write. My brain can only take so many tv shows, puzzles, and books. I should rather say my eyes can only take so much as well! So, today, my seventh day in the hospital, in my twenty-eighth week of pregnancy I am grateful for the time to reflect and the time God has given to these boys to become healthy and strong!